'Cats football club looking for big rebound
Inexperienced crew should improve
By Kari Kessler
SNP Sports Writer
In what might be another year of relative balance in the OCC Capital Division, Hilliard coach Barry Blackstone believes his football club has just about as much chance of contending as any other team does.
This despite returning only a small handful of starters from 1989's disappointing 2-8 club.
“Challenging for the OCC is a realistic goal for us this fall,” Blackstone said. “You really never know who's going to win from week to week, and I don't see this year being much different.
“We'll know a bit more about where we stand though if we can come out of Eastmoor, Grove City and Gahanna in one piece.
“I think by then we'll know whether we can challenge for any championship or not.”
THOSE THREE teams are Hilliard's non-league opposition in the season's initial three weeks – the same trio that trounced the Wildcats last fall by a combined 93-18 margin and left the 'Cats entering their Capital Division schedule with an 0-3 mark.
Some might find it hard to believe this year's Hilliard outfit, as inexperienced as it is, will be able to do much better than last year's senior-heavy team, supposedly rich in talent, that fell far fshort of its expectations.
Blackstone, however, is one who believes this year's crop of youngsters can do better.
“Last year we didn't move the ball consistently on offense, and we didn't stop very many people defensively. Those are our chief concerns this year, but I have a feeling we will do better.
“We have better speed on defense this year, and the unit appears to be aggressive. It isn't quite as consistent as we want it to bet yet, but it has the potential to get there.
“Offensively, we have a lot of inexperience an are very much untested. But, again, I think we have capable kids. They're showing daily improvement right now and are doing the right things.”
THE DEFENSE shapes up with a bit more experience, where no less than 11 individuals return who lettered in '89. Unfortunately for Hilliard fans, only two of the 11 – seniors Ryan Day (5-10, 185) and Sean Winters (6'3'', 186) – were regular starters.
Day started at left end and Winters at right tackle. They'll be back at their old positions. Another senior, Eric Ryan (5-10, 170) was a part time started at defensive end last autumn. Watch for him to start at nose guard this season.
The rest of the defensive front are juniors Tony Dandera (5-8, 215) and Jason Nolty (6-2, 164) starting at left tackle and right end respectively.
“The defensive line has to be a strength for us this year,” Blackstone said. “The group has looked pretty good so far, but they need to get better.”
Seniors Eric Poehler (6-3, 211) and Bruce McKenzie (5-8, 162) shape up as important backups along the line.
Mike Lovell (5-9, 188), a senior, and Bear Davis (5-7, 157), a junior, figure to line up at right and left inside linebacker respectively, with sophomore Heath Henkaline (5-10, 172) waiting in the wings for quality playing time.
Blackstone expects junior Scotty Glick (5-7, 132) to start at strong safety. Senior Rick Fulton (5-9, 148) will open at free safety.
Strongside corner will be held down by one of three juniors – Doug Herrmann (5-11, 173), Craig Pettit (6-0, 156) or Kevin Schulze (5-9, 140). Another junior, Davey Davis (5-9, 144), figures to start at weakside corner.
Sophomore Ryan Aleshire (5-10, 171), junior Aaron Richardson (6-1, 162) and junior Jeremy Clay (6-1, 172) figure to be key backups in the secondary.
OFFENSIVELY, TIM Miller (5-9, 150), a junior, is replacing now-graduated Luke Hanks as the starting quarterback. Blackstone indicated Miller has potential to be both a good runner and passer.
Herrmann should serve as Miller's backup.
Clay is taking over for Joel Holland at right halfback, while left halfback is a tossup between senior Mike Cook (5-10, 176) and sophomore Corey Rose (5-8, 145).
Veteran David Chapman (6-0, 170) is back at flanker, while juniors Brock Worthen (6-0, 175) at tight end and Richardson at split end hope to haul in their fair share of Miller's pass attempts.
Senior Todd Williams (6-5, 172) provides depth at tight end, while senior Barry Shaffer (6-0, 152) will share time equally with Chapman and Richardson at flanker and split end.
In the trenches, seniors Tim Fyffe (6-2, 307) and Mike Clipner (5-10, 215) lead the way. Fyffe is moving from left guard to left tackle. Clipner, a part-time starter in '89 at guard and tackle, will take over at left guard.
Poehler earned the starting job at right tackle, as did senior Rob Rappach (5-9, 208) at right guard and junior Brian Phillippi (5-11, 177) at center.
Senior Mark Storts (6-0, 202) and sophomore Jason Smith (5-8, 191) are penciled in for backup duty along the line.
JUNIOR SHAWN Carter (5-5, 120) is expected to handle extra point tries and short field goals. Dandera will kickoff and attempt long-range field goals.
Richardson will punt, Clay, Rose and Cook will return kickoffs, with Richardson and Fulton handling punt return duties.
By Kari Kessler
SNP Sports Writer
In what might be another year of relative balance in the OCC Capital Division, Hilliard coach Barry Blackstone believes his football club has just about as much chance of contending as any other team does.
This despite returning only a small handful of starters from 1989's disappointing 2-8 club.
“Challenging for the OCC is a realistic goal for us this fall,” Blackstone said. “You really never know who's going to win from week to week, and I don't see this year being much different.
“We'll know a bit more about where we stand though if we can come out of Eastmoor, Grove City and Gahanna in one piece.
“I think by then we'll know whether we can challenge for any championship or not.”
THOSE THREE teams are Hilliard's non-league opposition in the season's initial three weeks – the same trio that trounced the Wildcats last fall by a combined 93-18 margin and left the 'Cats entering their Capital Division schedule with an 0-3 mark.
Some might find it hard to believe this year's Hilliard outfit, as inexperienced as it is, will be able to do much better than last year's senior-heavy team, supposedly rich in talent, that fell far fshort of its expectations.
Blackstone, however, is one who believes this year's crop of youngsters can do better.
“Last year we didn't move the ball consistently on offense, and we didn't stop very many people defensively. Those are our chief concerns this year, but I have a feeling we will do better.
“We have better speed on defense this year, and the unit appears to be aggressive. It isn't quite as consistent as we want it to bet yet, but it has the potential to get there.
“Offensively, we have a lot of inexperience an are very much untested. But, again, I think we have capable kids. They're showing daily improvement right now and are doing the right things.”
THE DEFENSE shapes up with a bit more experience, where no less than 11 individuals return who lettered in '89. Unfortunately for Hilliard fans, only two of the 11 – seniors Ryan Day (5-10, 185) and Sean Winters (6'3'', 186) – were regular starters.
Day started at left end and Winters at right tackle. They'll be back at their old positions. Another senior, Eric Ryan (5-10, 170) was a part time started at defensive end last autumn. Watch for him to start at nose guard this season.
The rest of the defensive front are juniors Tony Dandera (5-8, 215) and Jason Nolty (6-2, 164) starting at left tackle and right end respectively.
“The defensive line has to be a strength for us this year,” Blackstone said. “The group has looked pretty good so far, but they need to get better.”
Seniors Eric Poehler (6-3, 211) and Bruce McKenzie (5-8, 162) shape up as important backups along the line.
Mike Lovell (5-9, 188), a senior, and Bear Davis (5-7, 157), a junior, figure to line up at right and left inside linebacker respectively, with sophomore Heath Henkaline (5-10, 172) waiting in the wings for quality playing time.
Blackstone expects junior Scotty Glick (5-7, 132) to start at strong safety. Senior Rick Fulton (5-9, 148) will open at free safety.
Strongside corner will be held down by one of three juniors – Doug Herrmann (5-11, 173), Craig Pettit (6-0, 156) or Kevin Schulze (5-9, 140). Another junior, Davey Davis (5-9, 144), figures to start at weakside corner.
Sophomore Ryan Aleshire (5-10, 171), junior Aaron Richardson (6-1, 162) and junior Jeremy Clay (6-1, 172) figure to be key backups in the secondary.
OFFENSIVELY, TIM Miller (5-9, 150), a junior, is replacing now-graduated Luke Hanks as the starting quarterback. Blackstone indicated Miller has potential to be both a good runner and passer.
Herrmann should serve as Miller's backup.
Clay is taking over for Joel Holland at right halfback, while left halfback is a tossup between senior Mike Cook (5-10, 176) and sophomore Corey Rose (5-8, 145).
Veteran David Chapman (6-0, 170) is back at flanker, while juniors Brock Worthen (6-0, 175) at tight end and Richardson at split end hope to haul in their fair share of Miller's pass attempts.
Senior Todd Williams (6-5, 172) provides depth at tight end, while senior Barry Shaffer (6-0, 152) will share time equally with Chapman and Richardson at flanker and split end.
In the trenches, seniors Tim Fyffe (6-2, 307) and Mike Clipner (5-10, 215) lead the way. Fyffe is moving from left guard to left tackle. Clipner, a part-time starter in '89 at guard and tackle, will take over at left guard.
Poehler earned the starting job at right tackle, as did senior Rob Rappach (5-9, 208) at right guard and junior Brian Phillippi (5-11, 177) at center.
Senior Mark Storts (6-0, 202) and sophomore Jason Smith (5-8, 191) are penciled in for backup duty along the line.
JUNIOR SHAWN Carter (5-5, 120) is expected to handle extra point tries and short field goals. Dandera will kickoff and attempt long-range field goals.
Richardson will punt, Clay, Rose and Cook will return kickoffs, with Richardson and Fulton handling punt return duties.